Keynote: Future of Networks: AI-Driven Network Transformation - Ankur Jain & Kandan Kathirvel

Summary

In this talk, Anor from Google Cloud discusses the evolution of telecom network infrastructure, highlighting the role of AI and automation in scaling Google's network to serve billions of users. He introduces NEFO, an open-source framework for network automation, showcasing how Google Cloud and its telecom partners are leveraging AI, Kubernetes, and multi-cloud capabilities to digitally transform network operations. Kandan further demonstrates NEFO's capabilities in simplifying network management and deploying automated solutions with AI-powered insights, emphasizing the future potential of AI and open-source collaboration to drive innovation in telecom networks.

Takeaways

• 😀 Google Cloud operates one of the largest global networks, supporting over 2 billion users across its various products, including YouTube and Google Cloud.
• 😀 The key principle behind Google’s network growth has been a relentless focus on autonomy, enabling efficient scaling and management of infrastructure.
• 😀 AI, including generative AI, is transforming telecom network operations by improving customer service, employee productivity, and network management.
• 😀 NEFO, the open-source telecom network automation project, is advancing cloud-native network automation and simplifying network management through automation and AI.
• 😀 Generative AI is increasingly being used in production environments, moving beyond demos to real-world deployments that enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.
• 😀 AI is applied in various areas of telecom, including network planning, deployment, and proactive anomaly detection to prevent or quickly recover from outages.
• 😀 Through NEFO, telecom network operators can automate network functions, optimize routing, improve energy efficiency, and apply AI-driven insights for better performance.
• 😀 NEFO enables multi-cloud and multi-network function automation, providing flexibility for telecom operators to deploy and manage network functions across multiple environments.
• 😀 The NEFO platform integrates open technologies like Kubernetes, TensorFlow, and Gemini, promoting flexibility and industry-wide innovation in network automation.
• 😀 NEFO allows for easy deployment and monitoring of network configurations via blueprints, providing tools for network architects, deployment engineers, and operations teams to collaborate effectively.
• 😀 With the continuous advancement of AI and the growing capabilities of models like Gemini, the telecom industry is only beginning to explore the full potential of AI-driven network automation.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Google Cloud's telecom industry team?

The primary focus of Google Cloud's telecom industry team is to lead Google Cloud's telecom industry and engineering for Google Distributed Cloud, with a focus on scaling network infrastructure efficiently using AI and automation.

How has Google Cloud's network infrastructure evolved since 2005?

Since 2005, Google Cloud's network infrastructure has grown significantly from a bandwidth of around 10 Gbps to operating one of the largest networks on the planet, supporting a wide array of Google products.

What is the key principle that has driven Google's network scaling?

The key principle driving Google's network scaling is its relentless focus on autonomy, utilizing software-defined networking and AI to manage and scale the infrastructure efficiently.

What are some of the common patterns and practices Google has adopted in its network operations?

Some common patterns and practices include the separation of data plane, control plane, and management plane, intent-driven automation, microservices-based architecture, telemetry analysis, and AI-driven closed-loop automation.

How are telecom network operators leveraging Google Cloud's capabilities?

Telecom network operators are using Google Cloud's capabilities, such as 40 global cloud regions and Google Distributed Cloud, to digitally transform their operations, focusing on areas like network functions, network analytics, and AI workloads.

What role does generative AI play in the telecom industry, as discussed in the presentation?

Generative AI plays a significant role in improving customer experience, employee productivity, and network operations by offering personalized customer service, assisting with internal tasks, and automating various network management functions.

What are the four key areas where AI is being used in the telecom industry?

The four key areas where AI is being used in the telecom industry are: improving customer experience (personalized interactions, call center assistance), enhancing employee productivity (coding, content creation), assisting field operations (troubleshooting), and optimizing network operations (anomaly detection, routing optimization).

How has reinforcement learning been applied in network optimization?

Reinforcement learning has been used to optimize routing on Google’s backbone network and, in some cases, to optimize radio access network parameters to improve energy efficiency.

What is the NEFO project, and how does it contribute to network automation?

The NEFO project is an open-source initiative designed to advance cloud-native network automation. It provides a foundation for automating telecom networks, enabling operators to deploy and manage network functions more efficiently using intent-based automation.

How does NEFO use AI in its network automation process?

NEFO incorporates AI to improve automation by applying AI-driven insights, such as generative AI for network configuration and troubleshooting, as well as reinforcement learning for optimizing network parameters. It also integrates with intent-based automation for seamless operation management.